Smith calls for reinforcements

Walter Smith
12 April 2012

Walter Smith has warned he needs new players in January or Rangers could struggle in the Europa League this season.

The Scottish champions will parachute into the competition after a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Ibrox saw them crash out of the Champions League.

Smith said: "We need a hand. We are in a situation where we basically only have teenagers left."

With Madjid Bougherra and Maurice Edu already out, Smith was also without Sasa Papac, who failed to recover from a head knock in time and Kyle Lafferty, who suffered a broken bone in his hand earlier in Wednesday.

Nikica Jelavic - who is ineligible for the Champions League anyway - and Andy Webster are also on the casualty list, while James Beattie was on the bench tonight despite also being out of action for several weeks.

Rangers will now hope for a lengthy run in the Europa League, having reached the UEFA Cup final in 2008, but Smith admits he needs more resources to work with.

Smith continued: "James Beattie has only had two or three days training but we had to put him in there otherwise you are a little bit embarrassed by lack of numbers.

"If we don't get any help in the January transfer window then we could have a struggle again because we are right down to the bare bones in terms of what we have. It will always be difficult to judge how we can do because we are in a situation where injury and suspension could affect us quite badly."

Asked if he believes he will be given that help, Smith added: "It doesn't look like it but that's the way we have been for a while and we just carry on. We need a bit of luck.

"We have lost four players who would have started in the team and we can't afford to do that. But credit to them for the way they battled away because Manchester United are a fantastic team."

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